Acute Communicable
Disease Control

 
Contact Information
County of Los Angeles
Department of Public Health
Acute Communicable Disease Control
313 N. Figueroa Street, #212
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 240-7941
Fax: (213) 482-4856
Email:acdc2@ph.lacounty.gov

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Acute Communicable Disease Control
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Microneedling
Key Points:
  • This procedure should NOT be performed by an aesthetician
  • All instruments should be properly cleaned between patients
  • Because the dermroller cannot be sterilized, it should be thoroughly cleaned between patients, or ideally, used only on a single patient

What is it?

Microneedling (also known as skin needling, collagen induction therapy, percutaneous collagen induction (PCI), dermaroller therapy) uses fine needles (dermaroller) to puncture or cause “microinjuries” to the skin. It is thought to rejuvenate the skin by inducing collagen and elastin to heal the punctures. The new collagen makes skin look and feel tighter, smoother, and more youthful and can help eliminate or reduce the appearance of acne scars. It is usually performed in a series of 4-6 sessions about a month apart.

Who can perform it?
It is most often performed by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. In California, aestheticians cannot penetrate the skin and should not perform microneedling. This can also be done at home, but products available likely do not go as deep into the skin’s surface as those done by a professional.

SAFETY TIPS:
Risks are considered minor, with skin irritation and redness following procedure most common. However, you should discuss how the dermaroller is cleaned between patients. You cannot sterilize the roller without damaging it; therefore, it can only be disinfected and can pose risk of infection if not done properly. Ideally, a new dermaroller would be used on each patient to guarantee no residual bloodborne pathogens.

Microneedling should NOT be preformed for: pregnant women, and those with open wounds, psoriasis, eczema, or recent radiation therapy.

 

 
 
Public Health has made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translation. However, no computerized translation is perfect and is not intended to replace traditional translation methods. If questions arise concerning the accuracy of the information, please refer to the English edition of the website, which is the official version.
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